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Sticky Honey Soy Chicken Thighs with Garlic

Close-up of four Sticky Honey Soy Chicken Thighs with Garlic, coated in a dark, glossy glaze and topped with chopped green onions.
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Make tender chicken thighs coated in a thick, sweet, and savory glaze featuring honey, soy sauce, and plenty of fresh garlic. This recipe is simple for a weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs
  • 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium preferred)
  • 1/4 cup honey
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, grated
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cold water
  • Optional: Sesame seeds and chopped green onions for garnish

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Lightly grease a baking dish or line it with foil.
  2. Pat the chicken thighs dry thoroughly with paper towels. This helps the skin crisp. Season the chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
  3. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, minced garlic, grated ginger, sesame oil, and black pepper. This is your sauce base.
  4. Place the chicken thighs skin-side up in the prepared baking dish. Pour half of the sauce mixture over the chicken, ensuring the skin is coated. Reserve the other half of the sauce for later.
  5. Bake for 25 minutes.
  6. While the chicken bakes, prepare the thickening slurry. In a very small bowl, whisk the cornstarch and cold water until smooth.
  7. After 25 minutes, remove the chicken from the oven. Brush the chicken with some of the reserved raw sauce.
  8. Return the chicken to the oven and bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 165°F (74°C) and the skin is browned.
  9. While the chicken finishes baking, pour the remaining reserved raw sauce into a small saucepan. Add the cornstarch slurry. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat, whisking constantly until the sauce thickens into a sticky glaze, about 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from heat immediately.
  10. Once the chicken is cooked, let it rest for 5 minutes. Brush the thickened sticky glaze generously over all sides of the chicken thighs.
  11. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions before serving.

Notes

  • For crispier skin, place the chicken on a wire rack set inside the baking sheet before baking.
  • To achieve the stickiest glaze, do not skip the cornstarch slurry step; this is what creates the thick coating after cooking.
  • Serve this chicken over steamed white rice to soak up extra sauce, and pair it with steamed broccoli or green beans.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://epicureempire.com/sticky-honey-soy-chicken-thighs-garlic/